Close to the Ukraine-Russia border — Ukraine's leaders repeated their pressing plea Thursday for the nation's Western allies to ship trendy battle tanks and different heavy weapons to assist them struggle off Russia's invasion. U.S. officers have been to debate the request once more Friday with NATO allies in Germany. Thus far, Germany has resisted Ukraine's request, backed by the U.S., to ship trendy "Leopard" tanks, with Berlin calling on Washington to make the same dedication earlier than it would achieve this.
A U.S. official has confirmed to CBS Information that one other package deal of navy help for Ukraine is about to be introduced Friday, value about $2.5 billion. The drawdown on U.S. hardware is anticipated to incorporate about 100 Stryker armored preventing autos, plus extra of the more-robust Bradley preventing autos.
CBS Information nationwide safety correspondent David Martin says the autos, together with the primary battle tanks Ukraine is hoping for, could be used to launch a counteroffensive in opposition to Russian positions within the east of the nation.
That is the place Ukraine's forces are locked in a brutal land warfare alongside a entrance line that stretches from north to south throughout the nation. Their efforts to claw again floor in jap Ukraine that has been occupied for months by Russia have been stymied by frigid climate, tough terrain — and, say Ukrainian commanders, outdated gear.
CBS Information visited a few of the Ukrainian troops holding that entrance line this week, catching a shell-rattled glimpse of trench warfare that appears prefer it ought to have been left behind in one other period.
After a bumpy trip alongside freezing, muddy roads, we reached an undisclosed location on the entrance, not removed from the Russian border, the place we met the lads of the Bogun Particular Forces Brigade.
Wanting up, we noticed typical, bucolic Ukrainian pine forest. However down under, minimize deep into the earth, was a warren of fortifications.
It is one factor to take again territory, however Ukraine then should defend it, which is why they've dug trenches alongside a whole bunch of miles of the entrance line. Contained in the dugouts, the troopers face not solely Russia's weapons, however mom nature's.
Mud, rain and excessive chilly are a continuing presence, and Ukraine's forces are nonetheless bracing for the coldest weeks of winter.
In an underground bunker, a wooden hearth retains the lads from freezing. There are heat beds and sizzling meals and drinks.
"It is not so arduous, you may get used to any harsh circumstances," Main Chekan informed us.
The commander and his males have been concerned in a few of the bloodiest preventing in jap Ukraine, actually digging in to defend in opposition to Russian offensives. And digging in jap Ukraine, within the useless of winter, "may be very arduous," Chekan admitted. "It is rock-solid ice… with fixed rain and snow."
Regardless of what number of miles of trench he and his males handle to dig alongside the entrance, Chekan stated the quickest method for Ukraine to win the warfare that Vladimir Putin launched virtually 11 months in the past, is with extra heavy weapons.
That is why he and different Ukrainian commanders have welcomed the U.S. resolution to ship armored preventing autos and superior missile protection methods.
However the message to the NATO commanders assembly this week in Germany is obvious: What's been promised to date, will not be sufficient.